Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri knew it was coming but was still shocked by how his ouster as Senate President was carried out. The most disgusting part was that no one from the “dissenters” offered any actual reason why he was suddenly replaced. No one believes that Malacanang had no hand in this heartbreaking episode for Zubiri.
Zubiri was sure “the powers that be” were very displeased with the ongoing Senate investigation on the leaked PDEA documents. The Senate inquiry led by Sen. Ronaldo dela Rosa was described by Zubiri as proving the “staunch independence” of the Senate.
‘Zubiri has finally experienced for himself, even as the third most powerful man in the
country, that loyalties and friendships are merely facades for deeper and shameful personal and political interests…’
Let’s not forget that administration moves for Charter change, heralded by the woefully unlawful conduct of the People’s Initiative, were shot down repeatedly at the Senate under Zubiri’s defiant leadership.
If it were another senator instead of Dela Rosa presiding over the Senate inquiry on the PDEA leaks, Malacanang would have been more restrained against Zubiri. But Dela Rosa, who remains unquestionably and unashamedly loyal to former President Rodrigo Duterte, could be presumed as having acted on the latter’s instructions.
In light of the growing rift between the President and Duterte, it seemed quite possible that the Marcos camp had entertained the not-so-far-fetched notion that Duterte was behind the opening of the Senate probe.
Zubiri has finally experienced for himself, even as the third most powerful man in the country, that loyalties and friendships are merely facades for deeper and shameful personal and political interests that can be triumphant “come hell or high water.” Remember that De la Rosa had supposedly sworn his unyielding and all-out support no matter what, only to withdraw it in the end.
***
Allow me please to recall this personal account that should be a hard lesson for unscrupulous businessmen who cheat their way through.
I bought a second-hand Toyota sedan years ago at a big car dealership in Riverbanks in Marikina City after being assured that it was in A-1 condition. Just a month later, the car’s transmission started to conk out, giving me periodic and expensive car troubles.
Five months later, super typhoon Ondoy struck Metro Manila. flooding most parts as never before and submerging about 30 second-hand cars for sale at the dealership at Riverbanks. My friends and I could only call it God repaying the wrong deliberately done to me.
